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Tuesday Tales: Stink Book Series by Megan McDonald

Posted on July 8, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Kids are funny when it comes to reading. JSL just finished first grade and was not interested in reading chapter books alone until just over a week ago. I would read chapter books to him, but he was not really fond of reading them to me. As a teacher, I knew many books and series to recommend. When I would make suggestions to my own son, I would get a very advanced eye roll and told he could not read them yet. Then, something clicked the other day. A friend had a bike on sale and we went to pick it up. While there, she asked JSL if he wanted any of the books that were being given away. He was hesitant, but took two of them. On the ride home, he cracked open the book below.

Yes, Stink and the Ultimate Thumb Wrestling Smackdown by Megan McDonald inspired JSL to overcome his fear of reading chapter books alone. The reality is the books have become reading addiction for my kiddo. He loves the characters and their quirks. The writing keeps him actively engaged and the illustrations from Peter H. Reynolds take the experience to another level.

Since JSL received that book, we have read the first book of the series together. We also put the book onto JSL’s Kindle App so it could head with us to the doctor’s office on his Galaxy Tab 2. Rather than play with toys, JSL kept devouring his book. This was not only the first time he was reading a chapter book mostly on his own, but his introduction to the beauty of e-books on the go.

When we moved into the room to wait for the doctor, we both laughed together while reading Stink and the Incredible Shrinking Kid. It was fun meeting Stink and recognizing his big sister Judy Moody. Yes, Stinks real name is James Moody and you learn much more about him in the first book of the series. I adore that Stink has perked JSL’s interest in checking out more of Judy’s books later on.

I have a feeling JSL will continue to read many more Stink books over the next few weeks. In just over a week, he has started his third book and has many others waiting to begin when the latest is complete. As you can see above, we have a few from the library and others on our Kindle to read while out and about.

Are you or your children fans of Stink books or Judy Moody? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

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books Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales: 2014 Summer Library Program

Posted on July 1, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a kid, I loved the summer. It was a time when I could go to the library with my friends and read books that I wanted to with no pressure from school. When summer reading programs started, it was even more fun. Of course, times have changed and summer reading programs at the library have also grown up. Two years ago, my boys adored the program that we had. We were able to check our books in online, head in for events and fun, and in the end they read a LOT. My boys really fed into the 15 minute increments when reading and wanted to add more and more time. Last year, the boys were not into the program. You had to go into the library to record things and a lot of it focused on going to activities and other items.

Saturday we went to the library to check out the 2014 program. Based on the theme – Fizz Boom Read, I think it’s going to be a very fun year. The boys are in different programs now that NHL is heading to Middle School. The boys each received a sheet with items to do over the next week (or beyond if need be).

JSL’s Elementary Reading Program had a beaker with bubbles to complete including:

Read a book out loud
Read a mystery book
Read a Science Fiction Book
Read a book by an author you’ve never read
Read a book by your favorite author
Read a Graphic Novel
Attend a library program

There were many other bubbles with tasks to complete. For every 5 bubbles completed, he will receive a prize. On the flip side of the sheet is an area to write observations for the week. When JSL finished reading his first book that night, he declared it was by his favorite author and he read it to me. Nice try, but I quickly explained only one bubble per book read. Even more impressive, JSL has been reading a book he got from a friend when we picked up a new bike Sunday. Suddenly, the solo chapter reading bug has hit the newly minted second grader.

NHL’s Teen Summer Reading Program sheet (High School/Middle School) has a flask with bubbles to complete including:

Read a magazine
Write a Haiku about the library
Read an Adventure Book
Read a Dystopian Book
Read a Poetry Book
Listen to an Audio Book
Read an e-book
Complete a SNAP Circuit Project

Like the other sheet, there were additional bubbles and items to fill out on the back. For every five completed, a prize will also be awarded. NHL has been working hard and seems to be very happy and I hope it continues the rest of the summer.

So this made me curious. What are the summer reading programs like at your library? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

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books Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – More Good Questions! Books

Posted on June 10, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It’s not a secret that I am fan of picture books. Kids of all ages love to be able to read a book and see the people, places, and things that the author is referring to. In the past, I wrote a review about the Good Question! series from Sterling Children’s Books. My boys really enjoyed them at the time and I was curious to see what would come next. Sterling surprised us with seven of the latest books earlier this year, the kids ran off with them and it took me a while to get them back to review.

Once again, these books are filled with fantastic questions that many will have on a variety of subjects. They are answered in a way that will leave younger children satisfied, and possibly spark older children to do additional research on the topics. The combination of photos, drawings, and diagrams complement the words written on each page. Not only are there books about science, but two that answer questions on United States History.

Mary Kay Carson wrote How Many Planets Circle the Sun?: And Other Questions About… Our Solar System (9781454906698) and Why Does Earth Spin?: And Other Questions About… Our Planet (9781454906759). Some of the sample questions from the two books are:

What holds our solar system together?
Why are there footprints on the moon?
How did Saturn get its rings?
Which planet has a cloud named Scooter?
Where is planet Earth?
What is Earth Made of?
Why is the sky blue?
What is the hottest place on Earth?

Martin W. Sandler wrote What Was America’s Deadliest War?: And Other Questions About… The Civil War (9781402790461) and Who Were the American Pioneers?: And Other Questions About… Westward Expansion (9781402790478). Several of the questions explored in this book include:

Who were the leaders of the war?
What was the first major battle of the war?
Why were horses so important in the war?
Why is Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address such a powerful speech?
Why did pioneer families risk it all to move west?
Did pioneer children go to school?
What did the pioneers do for fun?
How fast was the Pony Express?

Melissa Stewart wrote How Does the Ear Hear?: And Other Questions About… The Five Senses (9781454906735), How Does a Caterpillar Become a Butterfly?: And Other Questions About… Butterflies (9781454906674), and How Does a Seed Sprout?: And Other Questions About… Plants (9781454906711). The focus on science is clear with the questions including:

How do your eyes work?
How does breathing help you smell?
How does a butterfly escape from its chrysalis?
How do butterflies protect themselves from enemies?
Do all plants make seeds?
Which animals spread plant pollen?

All of the books mentioned were published in January 2014 and will soon have new Good Question! book brothers and sisters. Yes, another review is coming soon about the five books being released this July!

What topic would you love to see for a Good Question! book in the future? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: My family received the books mentioned above from Sterling Children’s Books in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed are my own.

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books Educational Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – Grossology Exhibit

Posted on May 27, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a science teacher at heart, I love to read books that promote fun learning. I have shared many books that the boys and I have read over the years that fall into this category. The other day, while visiting the Museum of Innovation and Science, I realized that we missed a biology related book series. Thanks to the Grossology exhibit which will be at miSci until September 1, I know a series of books that the kids and I will have to explore this summer.

Grossology definitely captured the interest of my two boys for several hours. In addition to this, TechyDad and I wanted more time to spend reading and trying everything that was new to us. Seriously, it isn’t every day that you walk into an exhibit via a mouth, only to head toward a climbing wall where you learn about the skin.

After looking around a bit, JSL and TechyDad decided to pick the nose to explore (pun intended). The two of them spent a bunch of time in there looking around at things that both have or will be having surgery on.

Meanwhile, NHL was off operating on a patient. This giant body was filled with organs and bones that had to be carefully removed. This was a fun and interactive area for older children.

JSL’s favorite area had to be the small playground section that was a mock up of the digestive system. He loved going into the mouth, sliding down the esophagus, and crawling through the intestine, and out the end onto the poop mat. Yes, they keep it classy here to teach kids. As he says, “First I was chewed and swallowed. Then I slid down into the belly, and was pooped out!”

As the boys played, I captured a few Instagram videos and photos along the way. The burp and flatulence makers were clearly favorites of my boys because of the music they made. My favorite spot was Gas Attack. I mean what’s not to love about cheese, cabbage, pigs, and pinball machines?

Lots more to share from Grossology, but I will do that another day. I know the boys and I will be heading back to miSci to explore the exhibit another day because we just renewed our membership for another year. Until that time, I will be getting the books that inspired this fantastic exhibit that is now only in the Capital Region, but other locations in the United States right now. I can not wait to check out more from Sylvia Branzei and illustrator Jack Keely.

Have you ever been to a Grossology exhibit or read one of the books? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

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books Educational travel Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – Fact or Fib Books

Posted on May 13, 2014 11:37 am by TheAngelForever

Imagine two boys running toward you and grabbing books out of your hands so quickly that you can’t even look at them. That is exactly what happened when a surprise package arrived from Sterling Children’s Books. NHL and JSL saw the titles on two of the items and snatched them from my hands and ran off to read them together. It made this parent and teacher so happy to see the kids eager about reading. They were laughing, learning, questioning each other, and asking for more. What books am I referring to?

Fact or Fib? and Fact or Fib 2: A Challenging Game of True or False – Written by Kathy Furgang – Sterling Children’s Books

May 2014 – ISBN 978-1-4549-0982-8 and 978-1-4549-0983-5 – $7.95 each – Ages 8+

From the back of the book:

Deciding which one of three statements is outrageously false is the challenge you face in each round of Fact or Fib? After you’re made your choices, you’ll turn the page to find out the answers and get more interesting information about each topic. Kids (and adults too!) will enjoy playing Fact or Fib?rainy days, during recess, and at parties-it can be playing anytime, with anyone!

As I mentioned, my boys were hooked with the books and spent hours across many days checking out these books. I truly did have to pry them away to check them out for myself. It was interesting to see the mix of science information presented in a small powerhouse of a book. The pictures on all of the pages are likely what kept my first grader intrigued, but the content alone sold my fifth grader. As a parent and teacher, I adore that a spark of learning can inspire kids to want to know more about the wide range of topics within the pages.

I know these books will be traveling with us this summer. They are perfect for on the go and perfect for summer enrichment. The first book focuses on knowledge about dinosaurs, bugs, and animals. The second book tackles space, the human body (including passing gas), and technology.

What books will your children be reading this summer to keep learning alive? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: As noted above, I received both of these books from Sterling Children’s Books and decided to review them because of the reaction from my children. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.